This week and next are the College Tournament that originally aired in February this year. Here are the scores from yesterday’s game:
Danny Vopava Ryan Stoffers Lyndsey Romick Me
0 20311 5700 28800
I had an excellent game today. I swept THREE categories in the Jeopardy round: Going Absolutely Dental, TV Time, and Sold! Today’s contestants were:
Samira Missaghi Ashley Walker Will Warren
At the end of the Jeopardy round, Samira had 3000, Ashley had 5400, and Will had 6200. Will was still in the lead with 8600 when he found the first Daily Double of the Double Jeopardy round, in European Bodies of Water. He picked up 1500 on this clue that he seemed to know immediately: “This longest Italian river is fed by 141 tributaries.”*
Ashley found the second Daily Double of the Double Jeopardy round, after she’d answered several clues in a row and taken the lead. The category was Classical Music. She added 2000 to her 13400 on this: “At 7, he wrote a polonaise in G Minor; a year later he performed for Czar Alexander I, who was in Warsaw at the time.”* Will then widened the gap when he lost 2000 on this triple-stumper in Non-Edible Fruit Terms: “This name of a fruit can also mean ‘highly desirable;’ it’s often found before ‘job.'”*
Did you guys know this triple-stumper in Commencement Speeches?: “This science guy told the Harvey Mudd class of ’08 that rumors were harder to start before the Internet.”*
One of the highlights of today’s game, I’d have to say, is when Mr. Trebek blew a raspberry as a clue in Non-Edible Fruit Terms. Incidentally, I would not call that a genuine raspberry, as he did not have his tongue out. I’ve just got to include a picture:
At the end of the Double Jeopardy round, Samira had 9400, Ashley had 17000, and Will had 7700. The Final Jeopardy category was Famous Americans: “At his death in 1790, he left 200-year trust funds to the cities of Boston and Philadelphia.”* I knew this one instantly. Samira and Ashley knew it, too. Ashley wagered enough to win even if Samira doubled her score, so we will see her again next week.
Now for an update on the Summer Hiatus Challenge: Perhaps the most meaningful news to you and me – It looks like there is going to be an official division devoted to (presumably) most of us, first-time players of the Challenge. That is, the highest-scoring rookie will get to compete in the Tournament of Champions at the end of the Challenge. Kids and teens have their own division, but so far there are only three playing. The guy who runs the contest put a poll on the boards asking participants what they think about this. The poll is open until August 22nd. I’ll keep you posted. Of course I support giving rookies their own division no matter what, but I was a bit disheartened (and more than a little surprised!) when I read the list of these rookies. ALL of the former champs I am keeping track of here are rookies in the Challenge! Here are their scores (and mine) through week 1:
mrbungle (Ryan Chaffee): 318
ptucker (Patrick Tucker): 269
emurphy (Liz Murphy): 268
Asphodel (Alison Stone Roberg): 250
aggiebud (Buddy Wright): 216
thejeopardyfan (me): 205
You may recall that I thought my dad would start playing the Challenge again when I told him that clues about lawn-mowing were featured one day. He didn’t exactly jump out of his chair like I thought he would when I told him. He did ask me if the questions were hard. I don’t want to pressure him, so I told him I could get him started the next day. He nodded, but he didn’t mention it the next day. I’ve decided I will let him bring it up again if he wants to play.
So far, one person has entered my contest where the prize in Chuck Forrest’s book Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions. She is continuing to play the Challenge, too, and I thank her! Everyone else – Don’t miss this opportunity to have fun, learn a lot, and maybe win a prize!
Also, don’t forget to sign up for my Blogger birthday party in Lincoln, NE on August 31. (Look at the map below to find a party near you.)
*Po, Chopin, plum, Bill Nye, Benjamin Franklin